The latest daily report by the Ministry of Health on the behavior of Covid-19 showed it on Friday 5,196 new coronavirus cases, a figure that has not been exceeded since 9 September. Meanwhile, on Saturday and Sunday, there were more than 4,500 cases respectively.
What do these numbers show? Does it have to do with the end of mandatory use of the mask? Former Health Minister Jaime Mañalich He wrote on his Twitter account: “We need to replace the mask on public transport. The numbers of the pandemic predict a new wave “.
Several experts have analyzed this proposal, agreeing on some points, but diverging on others.
For example, for the epidemiologist of the University of Chile, Gabriel Cavada“I follow the epidemic from Monday to Monday, but missing tomorrow’s figure, there is already a 9% increase today, compared to last week. Clearly, if this figure consolidates, we will soon see the approach of a ‘new wave’ of infections “.
Cavada adds that “the situation that is created is strange, because in the spring cases are expected to drop or stabilize, as happened in 2020 and 2021. The fact that there are these epidemic jumps is not alarming, but it is worrying. . At least we will see a 10% increase. Now why is this happening? In the case of large cities it was quite risky not to maintain the mandatory use of the mask and there it is suggested to adopt the relative preventive measuresespecially in places like public transport ”.
It was on 21 September that Minsal announced the end of the mandatory use of the mask, a measure that would have taken place on 1 October, the day on which 3,399 cases of Covid-19 were recorded. On that day, the Minister of Health, Ximena Aguilera, stressed that “andl Covid-19 does not go away, it will continue with usTherefore, an annual vaccine for at-risk groups will be included in the vaccination campaign, just as is done against the flu.
On the question of whether this is a factor or not, the national secretary of the Faculty of Medicine (Colmed), José Miguel Bernucci, believes that “the obvious mask in our country seems to be an adequate measure, and it has been widely accepted, so I think it is a measure that could be reintroduced if we have, beyond the number of cases per day, a considerable increase in hospital admissions or rate of connection to a mechanical fan “.
The latter is fundamental for Bernucci, since he argues that measuring daily cases is not the most appropriate. “We know the virus is circulating, so it would be better to know the occupancy rate of ICU beds.following Covid-19, where you can better see the impact of the virus, “he says.
Something similar believes the Infectologist Miguel O’Ryan: “The increase in cases is not a given to go back to the mask, now, if moderate or severe cases increase, that measure could be considered. As long as infections don’t affect hospitalizations, you can live with the virus. “
The former Minister of Health Jaime Mañalich, Meanwhile, he views the new figures with concern. “A new dimension of concern has appeared in the coronavirus, such as the prolonged Covid. Before, we had the fundamental concern of how many people became seriously ill and how many could die. Thanks to vaccines and immunity, it has taken on a peace of mind where it is said that people can get sick, but not die, ”he tells La Tercera.
The doctor adds: “There is a feeling of calm, which is a cold, but Unfortunately, it happens that out of 20 who get sick, four have quite disabling sequelae, and even there, not getting sick acquires value, so it is essential to have a good vaccination campaign – something that is currently lacking – and, secondly, effective tests. Both measures are very much in tune today ”.
For Mañalich, another key factor is the use of the “face mask”. “We are getting close to being one of the countries with the largest number of new cases per day in the world, and the truth is that we cannot afford a new outbreak. For now, preventive measures must be resumed and there the mask in closed places, such as public transport, is essential, ”he says.
